WWE RAW anchored in Cleveland this week. The show was action-packed and filled with matches that showcased the brand’s new roster after the WWE Draft. There was solid in-ring action to support the story lines being forwarded before WWE Crown Jewel.
A troubling pattern for WWE has been its declining viewership and the descent continued on the 2nd night of the WWE Draft with 2.287 million views, according to Forbes. WWE would be hoping to up the ante with their flagship show this week.
Let’s take a look through the highlights of this week’s Monday Night Raw.
Drew McIntyre vs. Ricochet
Winner: Drew McIntyre
The show kicked off with The Nature Boy, Ric Flair, introducing the final member of Team Flair for the upcoming Crown Jewel tag match. The 16-time world champion announced that Drew McIntyre would be the fifth member of his team.
McIntyre got on the mic briefly before Ricochet’s music hit and the first match of the night began.
after the Claymore kick in what was a simply terrific opening match. Following the match, McIntyre inflicted some more damage which included a face-first slingshot to Ricochet into the steel steps. Prior to the bout, 16-time world champion Ric Flair kicked off this week’s edition of Raw to announce that McIntyre would be the fifth and final member of his team at Crown Jewel.
McIntyre looked to be in good form as he attacked his opponent. The match was starting to look one sided when Ricochet landed an Enzuigiri to create some separation. McIntyre soon regained the upper hand though sending Ricochet crashing into a ring post.
Flair sent a message to Hogan in an interview on the floor in the middle of the match while McIntyre continued his unrelenting assault on his opponent.
The opponents went back and forth with the offence, neither able to put the other down for a win. That is until McIntyre delivered a perfectly timed Claymore Kick and scoring a pinfall victory.
The Scottish Psychopath continued to assault Ricochet after the match pushing him into the steel steps amidst a chorus of boos from the audience.
The two superstars played their roles well. McIntyre looked every bit a merciless, indomitable heel while Ricochet fit in nicely as the babyface underdog.
Aleister Black vs. Jason Reynolds
Winner: Aleister Black
Aleister Black vs Jason Reynolds was not a match as much as a beat down. This was Black’s first match as an official member of the RAW roster.
Reynolds managed to provide a semblance of competition but Black used his superior athleticism to beat his opponent down.
Stunning Jason with a jumping knee, Aleister Black ended the match with Black Mass.
Sin Cara vs. Andrade
Winner: Andrade
Sin Cara took control of the match early by diving over the top rope and disorienting his opponent.
Zelina Vega, however, provided a well executed distraction allowing Andrade to make a comeback in the match.
Sin Cara refused to back down and lashed out with a moonsault from the top rope. Andrade countered, planting Sin Cara and scoring a near fall.
The exchange of blows continued with the fight leaving the ring.
Vega sealed the match in Andrade’s favor with another distraction, allowing him to execute a hammerlock DDT and win.
WWE 24/7 Championship
Winner: Sunil Singh
In a quick backstage segment, the 24/7 championship changed hands. Sunil Singh defeated R-Truth via pinfall. R-Truth ended up pinning the wrong Singh brother later in the show as he attempted to regain the title.
The Viking Raiders vs. Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins
Winner: The Viking Raiders
Current champions The Viking Raiders took on former champions Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins.
Erik tossed Ryder and Hawkins around the ring, setting a take no prisoners tone early in the match. Ryder and Hawkins did present a respectable counter attack. They worked over Hawkins, grounding him.
The Viking Raiders prevailed in the end with Erik and Ivar performing the Viking Experience on Hawkins.
Cain Velasquez comes to WWE RAW
Mysterio entered the ring and claimed he had been training Velasquez to face Lesnar at Crown Jewel.
Paul Heyman interrupted the segment, promising pain for Velasquez and Mysterio. Shelton Benjamin entered the ring, reminding Mysterio of his relationship with Lesnar and their history as tag team partners.
As the former intercontinental champion threatened Rey, Cain Velasquez made his presence known and put Benjamin to sleep with a choke hold.
Seth Rollins vs. Humberto Carrillo
Winner: Seth Rollins
Rollins admitted in a backstage segment with Caruso, Rollins admitted that Bray Wyatt may have gotten into his head, but he also may have got into Wyatt’s head after burning down the Firefly Funhouse last week.
He then confronted Carrillo, regarding his backhanded comments earlier. This led to The Beast Slayer offering him a match.
Rollins dominated the majority of the match, trash talking his opponent throughout. Carrillo offered momentary rebuttal with a jawbreaker to the Universal Champion.
In the end, Rollins proved to big a hurdle for Carrillo to overcome. Seth delivered the stomp and won the match via pinfall.
The Street Profits vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
Winner: The Street Profits
The main event had been highlighted all night with The Street Profits getting a mystery partner.
The match started with AJ Styles on the outside. The backup for the Street Profits arrived in the form of Kevin Owens who went straight after Styles with a Stunner.
Montez Ford ended the match with a frog splash to Anderson and the Profits’ registered their first main roster victory.